Designation: E 2354 – 04
Standard Guide for
Assessing the Durability of Absorptive Electrochromic
Coatings within Sealed Insulating Glass Units1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2354; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide provides the recommended sequence for
using the referenced ASTM test methods for assessing the
durability of absorptive electrochromic coatings (ECCs) within
sealed insulating glass units. Cross sections of typical electro-
chromic windows (ECWs) have three to five-layers of coatings
that include one to three active layers sandwiched between two
transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs, see Section 3). Ex-
amples of the cross-sectional arrangements can be found2 in
“Evaluation Criteria and Test Methods for Electrochromic
Windows.” (For a list of acronyms used in this Standard, see
Appendix X1, Section X1.1).
1.2 This guide is applicable only for layered (one or more
active coatings between the TCEs) absorptive ECCs on vision
glass (superstrate and substrate) areas planned for use in IGUs
for buildings, such as glass doors, windows, skylights, and
exterior wall systems. The layers used for electrochromically
changing the optical properties may be inorganic or organic
materials between the superstrate and substrate.
1.3 The ECCs used in this guide will ultimately be exposed
(Test Method E 2141) to solar radiation and deployed to
control the amount of radiation by absorption and reflection
and thus, limit the solar heat gain and amount of solar radiation
that is transmitted into the building.
1.4 This guide is not applicable to other types of coatings on
vision glass with other chromogenic coatings, for example,
photochromic and thermochromic coatings.
1.5 This guide is not applicable to IGUs that will be
constructed from superstrate or substrate materials other than
glass.
1.6 The test methods referenced in this guide are laboratory
test methods conducted under specified conditions.
1.7 The values stated in metric (SI) units are to be regarded
as the standard.
1.8 There is no comparable International Standards Organi-
zation Standard.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance
of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.22 on Durability
Performance of Building Constructions.
Current edition approved April 1, 2004. Published April 2004.
2
Czanderna, A. W., and Lampert, C. M., “Evaluation Criteria and Test Methods
for Electrochromic Windows,” SERI/PR-255-3537, Solar Energy Research Institute,
Golden, CO, July 1990.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3
C 168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
E 2094 Practice for Evaluating the Service Life of Chro-
mogenic Glazings
E 2141 Test Methods for Assessing the Durability of Ab-
sorptive Electrochromic Coatings on Sealed Insulating
Glass Units
E 2188 Test Method for Insulating Glass Unit Performance
E 2190 Specification for Insulating Glass Unit Performance
and Evaluation
E 2240 Test Method for Assessing the Current-Voltage
Cycling Stability at 90°C (194°F) of Absorptive Electro-
chromic Coatings on Sealed Insulating Glass Units
E 2241 Test Method for Assessing the Current-Voltage
Cycling Stability at Room Temperature (194°F) of Absorp-
tive Electrochromic Coatings on Sealed Insulating Glass
Units
E 2355 Test Method for Measuring the Uniformity of an
Absorptive Electrochromic Coating on a Glazing Surface
NOTE 1—the following draft standards will be added to this guide after
they have been successfully balloted.
E RRR Test Method for Measuring the Stability to Thermal
Shock of Sealed Insulating Glass Units with an Operating
Absorptive Electrochromic Coating
E ZZZ Test Method for Assessing the Stability in High
Humidity and Cyclic Temperature Environments of an
Absorptive Electrochromic Coating within Sealed Insulat-
ing Glass Units
2.2 Canadian Standard:
CAN/CGSB12.8 Insulating Glass Units
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
 E 2354 – 04
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Refer to Terminology C 168 for definitions
of general terms.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 accelerated aging test—an aging test in which the rate
of degradation of building components or materials is inten-
tionally accelerated from that expected in actual service.
3.2.2 bleached state—a descriptor for an ECW when no
ions reside in the electrochromic layer or after ions have been
removed (or inserted, depending on the type of material) from
the electrochromic layer(s) and if applicable, the maximum
number of ions have been returned to the counterelectrode
layer to restore the photopic optical specular transmittance in
the bleached state (tb) from that of the photopic optical
specular transmittance in the colored state (tc).
3.2.3 chromogenic glazing—is defined in Practice E 2094,
but also see Appendix X1, Section X1.3.
3.2.4 colored state—a descriptor for an ECW after ions
have been inserted (or removed, depending on the type of
material) into the electrochromic layer and, if applicable,
removed from the counterelectrode layer to reduce the photo-
pic optical specular transmittance (of wavelengths from 400
nm to 730 nm) from that in the bleached state (tb).
3.2.5 control parameters for an electrochromic coating
(ECC)—the time dependent voltage or current profile that is
supplied by the manufacturer of the ECW in which the voltage
or current is applied to the ECC for achieving the desired cyclic
changes from the bleached state to the colored state and back
to the bleached state.
3.2.6 durability—the capability of maintaining the service-
ability of a product, component, assembly, or construction over
a specified time.
3.2.7 electrochromic coating (ECC)—the multilayered ma-
terials that include the electrochromic layers, other layers, and
transparent conducting oxide layers required for altering the
optical properties of the coating.
3.2.8 electrochromic layer(s)—the material(s) in an ECW
that alter its optical properties in response to the insertion or
removal of ions, for example, Li+ or H+.
3.2.9 electrochromic window (ECW)—a device with an
ECC consisting of several layers of electrochromic and atten-
dant materials, which are able to alter their optical properties in
response to a change in an applied electric field. The change-
able optical properties include transmittance, reflectance, and
absorptance result in changes in the solar heat gain, visible
transmittance, and U-factor of the window.
3.2.10 fenestration—the placement of openings in a build-
ing, that is, a window, door, or skylight and its associated
interior or exterior elements such as shades or blinds.
3.2.11 ion conducting layer—the material in an ECC
through which ions are transported between the electrochromic
layer and the ion storage layer and electron transport is
minimized.
3.2.12 ion storage layer or counter electrode layer—the
material in an ECC that serves as a reservoir for ions that can
be inserted into the electrochromic layer.
3.2.13 performance parameters—the photopic transmit-
tance ratio (PTR), of at least 5:1 (PTR = tb/tc) between the
2
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bleached (for example, tb of 60 to 70 %) and colored (for
example, tc of 12 to 14 %) states; coloring and bleaching times
of a few minutes; switching with applied voltages from ~1 to
3 V; and open-circuit memory of a few hours, for example,
contemporary ECWs typically have open circuit memories of 6
to 24 h.
3.2.14 sealed insulating glass unit—is defined in Test
Method E 2190 but see also Appendix X1, Section X1.3.
3.2.15 serviceability—the capability of a building product,
component, assembly or construction to perform the func-
tion(s) for which it was designed and constructed.
3.2.16 service life (of a building component or material)—
the period of time after installation during which all properties
exceed minimum acceptable values when routinely main-
tained.
3.3 For additional useful definitions for terminology used in
this standard, see Appendix X1, Section X1.3.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This guide provides a recommended systematic se-
quence for using the referenced test methods for evaluating the
durability of ECWs as described in section 1.2.2,4 (See Appen-
dix X1, Section X1.4.)
4.2 This guide provides a summary of the durability issues
addressed by each of the series of standards that are necessary
for establishing a service lifetime of electrochromic coatings
(ECCs) in insulating glass units (IGUs). When fully imple-
mented in buildings in the U.S., ECCs in IGUs have the
potential of saving 4 to 5 % of our current energy consumption
for all uses—not just buildings. Many of the standards that
have been and are being developed for the durability of sealed
insulating glass units are clearly relevant and important parts of
the long-term national mission of replacing currently used
windows with IGUs with ECCs, and these are cited in the
referenced standards. IGUs with ECCs will, of necessity, have
to be able to pass the applicable standards listed in Appendix
X1, Section X1.4, as well as an ASTM standard on wind
loading for IGUs. Passing these will not be sufficient because
the operating temperatures of ECCs in IGUs is likely to be
90°C (194°F) at the center-of glass, whereas the highest
temperature used in Test Methods E 773 or E 2188 is 60°C
(140°F). Listings of existing and proposed standards are given
in Table 1 and in Appendix X1, Section X1.4.
5. Background
5.1 Observations and measurements have shown that some
of the performance parameters of ECWs have a tendency to
deteriorate over time. In selecting the materials, device design,
and glazing for any application, the ability of the glazing to
perform over time is an indication of that glazing’s durability.
The ability of the product to perform over time, at or better
than specified requirements, is an indication of the service life
of the glazings. While these two indicators are related, the
4
Czanderna, A. W., Benson, D. K., Jorgensen, G. J., Zhang, J-G., Tracy, C. E.,
and Deb, S. K., “Durability Issues and Service Lifetime Prediction of Electrochro-
mic Windows for Buildings Applications,” NREL/TP-510-22702, National Renew-
able Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, May 1997; Solar Energy Materials and Solar
Cells, 56, 1999, pp. 419-436.
 E 2354 – 04
TABLE 1 Recommended Sequence for Using the Referenced or Planned Test Methods or Practice to Address Questions about the
Durability or Service Lifetime of ECCs within an IGU
STM or SP Qualification or Durability Question Addressed
Stability of the ECC within an IGU
E 2355 Will the ECC in the IGU pass initial uniformity inspection and transmittance measurements in the colored and bleached states? This test
method shall also be used to demonstrate if an acceptable uniformity is maintained after the specimens have been subjected to one or more
of the accelerated life tests.
E 2241 Can the ECC survive 50 000 current-voltage (coloring/bleaching) cycles at room temperature without a loss in performance below an
acceptable level”?
E 2240 Can the ECC survive 50 000 current-voltage (coloring/bleaching) cycles at the anticipated highest operating temperature of 90°C (194°F)
without a loss in performance below an acceptable level”?
E 2141 Can the ECC survive 50 000 current-voltage (coloring/bleaching) cycles at 90°C (194°F) in the presence of UV without a loss in performance
below an acceptable level”?
Assessing the Durability of the ECC within an IGU and of the Stability and Durability of the IGU
E RRR Will simulate the effect of a sudden rainstorm. Can the ECC/IGU survive (pass) a sudden exposure to a spray of water at 25°C (77°F) when
the coating temperature is at 90°C (194°F) at the center-of glass, just prior to the sudden exposure (no cracking of coatings or seal failures)?
E 2188 Can the ECC in an IGU pass the “Standard Test Method for Insulating Glass Unit Performance” as given in Specification E 2190?
E 2189 Can the ECW in an IGU pass the “Standard Test Method for Testing Resistance to Fogging in Insulating Glass Units” as given in Specification
E 2190?
E ZZZ Will the ECC and the IGU survive testing in high humidity at xx°C (yy°F) and 200 thermal cycles between –30°C (-22°F) and xx°C (yy°F)?
Establishing the Service Lifetime of the ECC within an IGU
E 2094 Can a service lifetime be established and what is that lifetime?

purpose of this guide is to provide a recommended sequence
for assessing the durability of absorptive ECCs within sealed
IGUs.
5.2 ECWs perform a number of important functions in a
building envelope including: minimizing the solar energy heat
gain; providing for passive solar energy gain; controlling a
variable visual connection with the outside world; enhancing
human comfort (heat gain), security, ventilation, illumination,
and glare control; providing for architectural expression, and
(possibly) improving acoustical performance. Some of these
functions may deteriorate in performance over time. Solar heat
gain through an ECW is decreased because of two principal
processes. Energy from the visible part of the spectrum is
absorbed by an ECW in the colored state. In addition, infrared
radiation is either absorbed and reflected by the ECW materials
or is reflected by the transparent conducting oxide layers that
are used for applying the coloring or bleaching potentials
across the other layers in the ECW.
5.3 It is possible, but difficult to predict the time-dependent
performance of ECWs from accelerated aging tests because of
the reasons listed below. Users of this guide should be aware of
these limitations when reviewing published performance re-
sults and their connection to durability.
5.3.1 The degradation mechanisms of ECW materials
and/or glazings are complex. In some cases, however, these
mechanisms may be determined and quantified.
5.3.2 The external factors that affect the performance of
ECWs are numerous and may be difficult to quantify. However,
in some cases, the use, the environmental factors, and other
information that influence performance may be known.
5.3.3 Fenestration units with tested ECWs may be different
from those planned for use in service. Some companies have a
database of in-service performance that can be compared to
laboratory results.
5.4 Degradation factors (or stresses) for ECWs include the
ion insertion and removal processes; temperature; solar radia-
tion (especially UV); water vapor; atmospheric gases and
pollutants; thermal stresses such as shock from sudden rain, as
well as during the diurnal and annual temperature cycles;
electrochemically induced stresses in the multilayer thin-film
device; hail, dust, and wind; condensation and evaporation of
water; and thermal expansion mismatches.2,4 These factors
may singularly or collectively limit the stability and durability
of ECWs. Because the ECWs are expected to have the
multilayer of coatings on one of the surfaces in the air space of
double-pane or triple-pane IG units with an inert gas fill in the
sealed space, many factors such as high humidity, atmospheric
gases and pollutants, condensation and evaporation of water,
and dust should not affect the durability of electrochromic
coatings in IG units.2
5.4.1 Establishing test procedures from which ECW dura-
bility can be predicted and validated for in-service use is an
extremely crucial element for the commercialization of ECWs,
even for niche markets. To reduce the number of accelerated
test parameters that are required to predict the long-term
performance of ECWs, accepted procedures or methods have
not been established for testing ECWs.2 Because no uniformly
accepted procedures or methods have been established for the
real-time testing of ECWs and because manufacturers and
users cannot wait 20 or more years for the real-time evaluation
of each window design, accelerated life testing (ALT) methods,
procedures, parameters, and evaluation must be used for
assessing ECW stability.2,4 These include (a) rapid but realistic
current-voltage (I-V) cyclic tests emphasizing the electrical
properties, (b) ALT parameters that are typically used in
durability tests by standards organizations, (c) ALT parameters
that are realistic for the intended use of large-area ECWs, and
(d) how the ALT results must be related to real-time testing.2
The purpose of this guide is to provide the recommended
sequence for using the referenced ASTM test methods for
assessing the durability of absorptive electrochromic coatings
(ECCs) within sealed insulating glass units in which the ECC

3
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is on an inside glazing surface and of the preassembled
permanently sealed IGUs that are at least 250 by 250-mm (10
by 10-in.).
6. Procedure
6.1 Study the referenced test methods and practices. Devote
special attention to the sections on scope, significance and use,
and an overview of each test method. Note especially that the
adopted standards Practice E 2094 and Test Method E 2141
address the broad scope of establishing the service lifetime, or
for assessing the durability of electrochromic coatings in
insulating glass units (IGUs), respectively. The cost of testing
will be considerable when implementing either of these stan-
dards.
6.2 Note that the expected in service environmental expo-
sures for the ECW will range from temperature extremes from
−30°C (−22°F) to 90°C (194°F) at the center-of-glass, relative
humidities of up to 95 %, and solar irradiance of up to 1200 W
per square meter. For service lifetimes of up to 20 years, it is
anticipated an ECW must survive 50 000 cycles from the
bleached state to the colored state and back to the bleached
state. These criteria dominate the rationale for the selection of
the test conditions used in the referenced test methods and
practices.
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
X1.1 Acronyms Used in This and Related Test Methods
X1.1.1 ALT = accelerated life testing
X1.1.2 I-V = current-voltage
X1.1.3 ECC (s) = electrochromic coating(s)
X1.1.4 ECW (s) = electrochromic window(s)
X1.1.5 IG = insulating glass
X1.1.6 IGU (s) = insulating glass unit(s)
X1.1.7 IR = infrared (radiation)
X1.1.8 PTR = photopic transmittance ratio
transmittancebleached/transmittancecolored
X1.1.9 TCE (s) = transparent conducting electrode(s)
X1.1.10 UV = ultraviolet (radiation)
X1.1.11 V = voltage
X1.2 Additional Useful Standards Related to This
Standard
X1.2.1 ASTM Standards (Refer to Practice E 632 and
Terminology G 113 for a Description of General Terms):3
C 1036 Specification for Flat Glass
C 1048 Specification for Heat-Treated Flat Glass—Kind
HS, Kind FT Coated and Uncoated Glass
C 1172 Specification for Laminated Architectural Flat Glass
C 1199 Test Method for Measuring the Steady State Ther-
mal Transmittance of Fenestration Systems Using Hot Box
Methods
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E 2354 – 04
6.3 Note that the need for a series of standards, which will
permit manufacturers of electrochromic coatings in insulating
glass units (IGUs) to determine if their products are ready for
the more comprehensive Test Method E 2141 and subsequently
Practice E 2094, has resulted in the adoption of additional
standards. These additional test methods may be defined as
“qualification” standards, that is, if the product passes a rather
simple, less expensive qualification test, then it is ready for the
more-comprehensive scrutiny inherent in Test Method E 2141
and subsequent Practice E 2094.
6.4 Refer to Table 1 for a summary of the durability
questions addressed from using each of the referenced methods
and practices.
6.5 Evaluate what is already known about each particular
ECW for which a service lifetime needs to be established.
6.6 Revise the sequence of testing to fit the needs for
assessing the durability of any particular absorptive ECC
within an IGU.
6.7 Implement the revised sequence of testing.
7. Keywords
7.1 chromogenic glazing; durability; electrochromic win-
dows; fenestration; insulating glass units; sealed insulating
glass units
E 122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,
with a Specified Tolerable Area, the Average for Characteristic
of a Lot or Process
E 546 Test Method for Frost Point of Sealed Insulating
Glass Units
E 632 Practice for Developing Accelerated Tests to Aid
Prediction of Service Life of Building Components and Mate-
rials
E 773 Test Method for Accelerated Weathering of Sealed
or Insulating Glass Units
E 774 Specification for the Classification of the Durability
of Sealed Insulating Glass Units
E 903 Test Method for Solar Absorptance, Reflectance, and
Transmittance of Materials Using Integrating Spheres
E 1423 Practice for Determining the Steady State Thermal
Transmittance of Fenestration Systems
E 1887 Test Method for Fog Determination
E 2189 Test Method for Testing Resistance to Fogging in
Insulating Glass Units
G 113 Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial
Weathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
X1.3 Additional Useful Definitions for Terminology Used
or Referenced in This Standard
X1.3.1 accelerated life testing—a protocol that results in
accelerated aging of materials or devices.
4
 E 2354 – 04
X1.3.2 chromogenic glazing—a glazing consisting of one or
more layers of chromogenic materials, which are able to alter
their optical properties in response to a change in ambient
conditions such as illumination intensity, termperature, applied
electric field, and so forth. The changeable optical properties
include transmittance, reflectance, absorptance, and emittance.
X1.3.3 counter electrode layer—the ion storage material in
an ECW that serves as a reservoir for ions that can be inserted
into or received from the electrochromic layer.
X1.3.4 degradation factors—refer to conditions, imposed
or natural, that influence or cause a degradation mechanism,
effect, or mode.
X1.3.5 electro-optic characterization—refers to the process
of recording optical changes (transmittance, reflectance, ab-
sorptance, and so forth.) in an ECW as a function of electrical
protocols (voltage, current).
X1.3.6 electro-optic cycling—refers to the electrochemical
cycling process of applying repetitive positive and negative
voltages to an ECW for the purpose of reversibly changing the
optical properties of the ECW device from the bleached to the
colored state.
X1.3.7 optical photopic transmittance ratio—refers to the
ratio of the bleached state transmittance (tb) to the colored state
transmittance (tc) where tb and tc are both weighted by a
spectral photopic response curve.
X1.3.8 optical transmittance—the ratio of the radiant en-
ergy transmitted by a body to the total radiant energy incident
upon the body.
X1.3.9 photodiode array spectrophotometer—an optical de-
tector system that uses an array of photodiodes coupled to
CCDs to facilitate UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopic measurements.
X1.3.10 sealed insulating glass unit—a preassembled unit,
comprising lites of glass, which are sealed at the edges and
separated by dehydrated spaces(s), intended for vision areas of
buildings. The unit is normally used for windows, window
walls, picture windows, sliding doors, patio doors, or other
types of fenestration.
X1.3.11 spectral photopic response—refers to the relative
response of the human eye in its light adapted state (daylight)
to radiation of a given wavelength in the spectral region of
~410 to 720 nm.
X1.3.12 specular transmittance—refers to the optical trans-
mittance that does not include light with a diffuse component.
X1.3.13 trapezoidal voltage profile—the geometric shape
generated by plotting the voltage versus time applied to an
ECW with a slope in V/s up to a constant voltage and then a
negative slope in V/s back to zero voltage.
X1.4 Additional Published Standards under the
Jurisdiction of E06.22 (Task Group 22.05)3
E 546 Test Method for Frost Point of Sealed Insulating
Glass Units
E 576 Test Method for Frost Point of Sealed Insulating
Glass Units in the Vertical Position
E 773 Test Method for Accelerated Weathering of Sealed
Insulating Glass Units
E 774 Specification for the Classification of the Durability
of Sealed Insulating Glass Units
E 1887 Test Method for Fog Determination
E 2188 Test Method for Insulating Glass Unit Performance
E 2189 Test Method for Testing Resistance to Fogging in
Insulating Glass Units
E 2190 Specification for Insulating Glass Unit Performance
and Evaluation
E 2269 Test Method for Determining Argon Concentration
in Sealed Insulating Glass Units Using Gas Chromatography

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